On With The Weekend!

A lot of hospitals that I work with have automated delivery systems. Sometimes its the good old bank air chute tube thing, sometimes its these automatic delivery carts that run the hall ways on tracks - today, in Silicone Valley I saw something that I've seen one other time, but I've never seen it before and laughed so hard. The hospital I was at today was in El Camino and on the business cards that I got, the title under the hospital was "THE hospital of Silicone Valley".... thats a lot to live up to, huh?

So, in the basement they have these transport robots that run without tracks but based on motion and sensors. They might have a garbage bin or a case cart or something else on wheels that would typically be pushed by an employee, but since its Silicone Valley, they decide to forgo that paycheck and give it to a robot that takes about 3 times as long to deliver the cart. Literally, the thing moved SOOOOO slow -- I think a turtle would have moved faster. These little robots were called "Tug". They all had labels on their rears that said "Tug 1" "Tug 2", etc. In the front they had their sensors so, we were goofing off and stood in front of one to see if it would stop. It did stop about a foot from us and then the little "eyes" in front shifted back and forth and back and forth and after about 3 or 4 minutes, it finally turned a little to go around the "obstacle" in its way.

Needless to say, by that time we had moved and it could have gone on with the route it was originally taking. We laughed about that one. But the one we absolutely died over was that, as we were standing in the hallway waiting for our appointment, "Tug 2" moves farther down the hallway to the supply department and slowly moves about 3 feet past the door, stops, eyes shift, turn left facing wall and with its robot voice starts saying "PLEASE OPEN DOOR FOR TUG" "PLEASE OPEN DOOR FOR TUG" and on and on it keeps on talking to the wall. Someone in the department finally opens the door but now Tug 2 is behind the door so she's standing there looking at us like "where is the thing" and we're like "its behind the door". And by the time, I swear Tug 2 was saying "PLEASE OPEN DOOR FOR TUG" but it was like with this pleading voice, like it was a whiny nerdy tug. The woman from the department comes out and my rep is trying to help move the thing over and they finally get it shifted but its still not pointed enough in front of the door and its still whining. They finally got it in, but we were laughing that Tug 2 was the "blonde tug" :)

So much for the up and coming technology of the Silicone Valley! So - the week in San Francisco was pretty good. I worked with 2 new reps and we met some good new accounts. I had some good time as well to get some work done and actually do some stuff downtown.

I did bikram at two different studios. The first one I didn't really like, the second one was pretty enjoyable - very hot and very clean and a great instructor. I love going to cities where you can do public transportation and walk places. The first studio I went to for Bikram was about 4 blocks from the Bart station, but it was in the Mission district which is not always the best so the neighborhood I was walking through was a little uncomfortable. The second studio I went to was actually about 30+ blocks from the Bart and took me about 15 minutes to walk, but I loved the area and I loved the walk. Part of it took me through some of Chinatown and through downtown-downtown area and Embarcedero. Loved it! I stopped for some sushi and I even found a cupcake place that actually had pretty fantastic cupcakes!

I'm actually getting back late tonight and then tomorrow morning I have to go downtown for a 4 hour in-service. And I may be going to fundraiser in the evening downtown as well. We'll see if it happens or not. Either way, its going to be a long weekend....

My Week Starts

It was a pretty busy weekend and its headed into a pretty busy week.  

Friday, I met up with a group for my friend Kate's birthday (Kate's the one in the middle with the short reddish hair).  We ate Mexican and Laurie, the one at the end by me, even made little sangria jello shots.  They were actually pretty good. 

After the party, Kate threw out to me that maybe we could go see a movie on Saturday.  So - after doing some baking, cleaning the shed out, putting away all the lawn furniture, doing some raking and some laundry, I met Kate for an 7:20 pm movie (which we'll call 6:20 pm because it was daylight savings time :)).  We saw Argo and I think I may have peed my pants - I was so tense!  I was grabbing Kate's hand and we were both almost yelling.  Maybe its just Kate, but I don't think I've ever been so emotional during a movie!  Thanks Kate!....

Sunday was - well Sunday.

Monday I went into the office and worked on a bunch of stuff, snuck in a run and romp at the dog park before I had to head to church for a meeting.

Then Tuesday came.  I intentionally booked a flight a little later so I could take the dogs to the dog park and get over and "get the vote out" of me.  Its always crazy how the whole drive lined up to the voting place is crammed with signs until you get to the one sign that says "no ballot petitioning beyond this point" and then you're safe.  I don't do well with competitions of sorts so I'm choosing to just tune in later when they're actually making the call of who's winning.  I guess we'll see, won't we....

So as mentioned in my previous email, I'm now in San Francisco.  Well, technically, Millbrae.  I love it here!  Its like my home away from home :)  I almost always get put in the same room, I know all the restaurants and shops around here.  I landed around 4:30 and got over to the hotel quick enough to jump into my running shorts and shoes and taking a loop around my old running path.  I run up from the hotel and through this great little neighborhood and then loop back around and go down by a grocery store where I usually stop and grab something for dinner.  Its just the perfect weather, not too hot, not too cold.  I love the smells in the park, its fresh and theres a fresh woodchip scent on the path.  When you run through the neighborhoods there are all these little bungalow houses and there's this smell that reminds me of my Aunt June and Uncle Don's garage in the house in Zion.  Its not a bad smell, but its like an older, lived in smell.  I don't even know what it is, but it makes me happy :)  

Tonight, I actually ran over by the BART station before I hit the grocery store, ran up the 50 stairs to the top platform and bought a ticket for the week.  I love that I can take the train and just meet up with my reps.  Tomorrow I'm headed over by UCSF which is about a 30 minute train ride from Millbrae.  I usually take a swing by my beloved Cafe Roma first where I get my delicious Nutella Latte.  

It sounds like the 3 reps I'm working with for the next three days have packed my schedule out.  I'm hoping that we stay downtown tomorrow as there's a bikram studio that has like a 4:30 class that I'd like to catch before coming back out to Millbrae.  Hopefully either Wednesday or Thursday I'll get over to try the studio here.

Well - by tomorrow we'll know who won the election tonight..... Until then..... May the best man win :)

I'm In Love!!!!

Two weeks ago I had a little extra time to roam around the Internet and figured I check on the whole TSA precheck thing. You basically have to have a membership with an airline and then you go on with your airline and go to their TSA precheck section and register and then just wait. You don't get anything but they run your info and then one wonderful day you go to security with your boarding pass, they scan it and then wave you to the deserted aisle of dreams where only special people like me get to go:)

Today was my wonderful day and I've fallen in love!!!!! Literally 1 minute was what it took for me to get through security. I got to leave my shoes and coat on, leave my laptops in their bags, liquids in my purse.... I just put everything on the belt and walked through to a chorus of angels! It was wonderful! I've never gone through so quickly!

Unfortunately not every airport does the TSA precheck but I'm hoping it will be so easy at all the ones that do!

And now I'm standing in line to board my 4 hour 50 minute flight to San Fran (and no upgrade so I'm back with all the cattle...:(....). At least I stopped at Frontera Grill and have a Cubana to go - I'm going to be the one smelling up the flight with roasted pork! Ha! Po-o-ork-k (drooling:)

Its Official - ly Depressing.....

I was headed into the office today and stopped at my Caribou (coffee that is, not a large animal with antlers and fur).  On the way out, I passed by the Uno parking lot and saw the most horrifying thing ever!.....

Two big tractor plows just sitting there waiting for the first snows.....

AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Its official - the city of Gurnee and the shopping center have recognized that at any given moment we may get the worst winter storm of our lives.  At least, thats how a good midwesterner always thinks once you head into November.

Its a very sad day for me.  But, I'm trying to stay positive.  I'm headed to San Francisco (and Napa - YAY!) tomorrow after I do my civic duty of voting..... (REMEMBER TO VOTE! :).  I'll be there Tuesday through Friday.  I checked the weather and its a combo of rain and sun but it will be 50s and 60s.  Well, ideally - I'm staying in my usual Millbrae locale and its always warmer there than downtown San Fran (Millbrae is about a 15 minute train ride from downtown).

But - San Francisco can't last forever - I know I'll come back to the cold.  Although, its not been bad lately.  Its actually pleasant to run in the temps right now - I could go forever as its not too cold but its cold enough that I'm not sweating profusely.  Anyways - my flight gets back at midnight on Friday and then I have to head downtown (on Saturday :((  ) for an 8a.m in-service piece until noon.  Its going to get me 4 CEUs that I desperately need as my certification is coming up and they gave me an extension until mid December.  I've got some work to do!

Well - enjoy your hopefully snow free day - and let the countdown to the falling flakes of winter begin :(

Enjoying The Sun Of Phoenix...And My Sister's Son Of Phoenix

Two days in Phoenix made me jealous of all those people who are gutsy enough to walk around in 80 degree weather complaining how "chilly" it is.  Bleh.... Suck it up and come visit us in the Windy City!   It was perfectly wonderful weather, starting the day off at around 70 or 80 and then getting up to the 90s.  The sun was out, the weather was nice and dry the birds were happy to be out in the desert.  I'm sad to come back to 50 degrees and no sun, but I'm on the plane so its too late now...

What a happy event to get to my hotel and find that it was right next to a great trail that ran alongside the Phoenix canal.  I came in to the hotel around 4:30ish and jumped into my running clothes and hit the trail for a good 4 miles.  It was perfect running weather as it was warm, but without humidity, I barely broke a sweat.  The sun was on my back going and coming back, I went on a shaded side of the trail.

Then, after Yelping "Bikram" I found that there was a studio about 10 minutes from my hotel so I got up early and went over and caught a class before I headed out to my days appointments.  What an interesting Bikram studio and class this was.  First - the instructor was this older guy who wore glasses at the tip of his nose the whole class.  It wasn't until midway through class that I realized that the outfit he was wearing was supposed to be his Halloween costume.  I thought he just had some weird yoga thing going on.  He had this long toga cape thing with a belt over this short jumpsuit and he had this headband thing on with a big fake diamond in the middle of the headband.  The whole studio was kind of old and dirty looking, but at least it didn't smell too bad.  I found out probably why is because the instructor spent the whole class walking back and forth in the back opening doors, switching on fans, switching off the heat.  Literally, I think he has ADHD.  He walked around the whole class drinking and stepping on people's feet - it was the absolutely weirdest, worst class I've ever been to.  I didn't even break a sweat on this one so I don't feel like I got my good yoga stretches and poses on.  Too Sad.  Oh well - Phoenix studio 1 down, I'll try the other one next time.

After the day's appointments I got to go over to Jim's (aka James') house over in Tempe.  His first place - not a complete bachelor's pad, but pretty dog gone close.  He is his dad's son - he just reseeded his lawn... Its all about the lawn with the Lee men..... :)

I got to meet the girlfriend, Jamie, who was awesome.

Ok - thats not Jamie :)  But she is tall and thin -- just not prickly...

I also got to see Jim's office.  Very interesting and chilling with all the tiny little cubicles.... made me thankful that when I do go into the office, the cubes are pretty big and have high walls...

And now I'm on a flight headed back to 40 degrees and who knows what.  I enjoyed the sun while I could.